Lanlan CaneBall

LanLan CaneBall

LanLan CaneBall is a puzzle with a 4x4 cube mechanism, cut into a polyhedral ball shape. It resembles a rhombicuboctahedron, so instead of six flat faces it has many small facets, both square and triangular. The puzzle was designed by Runchuan Lan and released by LanLan in 2017. We offer the version with a black body.

4x4 mechanism and an unusual colour scheme

Inside is a standard 4x4 mechanism, so the moves are the same as on a 4x4 cube. What differs is the colour scheme. CaneBall doesn't have six coloured faces. It is divided into eight parts (octants), and each one has its own colour, giving eight colours in total. When solved, each eighth of the puzzle is a single colour.

Knowing how to solve a 4x4 helps a lot, because the moves and the general approach are the same. However, you have to switch from recognising colours on faces to keeping track of octants. If you solve the 4x4 using the reduction method, this is an interesting change. Familiar patterns don't always work here, and you'll have to rethink some things from scratch.

How it turns

Sellers and users report that CaneBall turns smoothly right out of the box and feels solid. Still, it's a collector's puzzle, not a speedcubing cube. Don't expect it to behave like a flagship 4x4, with equally good corner cutting, tension adjustment or magnets. What matters most here is the unusual shape and the solving itself.

Who is it for?

Mainly for those who can already solve a 4x4 and want to try something other than yet another cube-shaped puzzle. CaneBall is also a great choice for collectors of unusual puzzles, as the rhombicuboctahedron shape is rarely seen among twisty puzzles. For a child's first puzzle, while they're still learning the 3x3, it's better to choose something simpler.

Specifications

• Manufacturer: LanLan
• Designer: Runchuan Lan
• Mechanism: 4x4x4 (shape mod)
• Shape: polyhedral ball resembling a rhombicuboctahedron
• Number of colours: 8 (each octant in a different colour)
• Size: approx. 65.5 mm
• Dimensions: approx. 6.3 x 6.16 x 6.1 cm
• Body colour: black